TrueNat testing for expats who wish to return: Centre rejects Kerala’s demand

NEW DELHI: The Centre Tuesday rejected Kerala’s demand for arranging TrueNat Rapid Testing before bringing the expatriates back. Foreign Affairs Minister informed this to the Kerala Chief Secretary through a letter. The directive was rejected pointing as ‘impractical’.

This stand was taken following the communication between the Embassy and the Union Ministry of External Affairs. The letter to the chief secretary has mentioned that Gulf countries have clarified that TrueNat testing is impractical and it has not been approved. The ministry has explained the stand of each countries in the letter to Kerala.

The UAE has clarified that presently rapid antibody test is being conducted but there is no TrueNat testing. Their law is that a COVID infected person will not be permitted to board a flight. So, a special flight cannot be permitted for expatriates confirmed of COVID.

Kuwait has informed that two airlines are conducting test and if required passengers of flights to India can undergo it, but the passengers themselves should bear the expenses of it. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have informed that TrueNat testing is impractical, said the foreign affairs ministry.

The Kerala Government had decided to make mandatory COVID Negative Certificate to those returning from abroad. The state had urged centre that expats should be brought after conducting TrueNat testing.

The state had requested Centre that embassies should arrange this facility in airports and only after tested negative, passengers should be permitted to board the flights.

The state government suggested this proposal pointing that if the infected and others are brought together then it may lead to a community transmission. The state government had directed that those diagnosed with the disease be brought in a special flight.